House cats’ noses may function like highly efficient chemical analysis equipment

Parallels between cat noses and gas chromatography provide new insights into mammalian evolution

04-Jul-2023 - A new computer simulation of domestic cats’ noses suggests that the convoluted nasal structures involved in their sense of smell function similarly to parallel coiled gas chromatographs—laboratory equipment used for highly efficient analysis of the chemical makeup of substances. Zhenxing Wu of ...

The chemistry of mummification

Specific substances for certain parts of the body

06-Feb-2023 - A international team of researchers from LMU and University of Tübingen is unveiling the secrets of ancient Egyptian embalming. Vessels from a workshop in Saqqara are providing new insights into the substances that were used to preserve human bodies. Exactly 100 years ago, the tomb of Tutankhamun ...

Sustainable scents from the mountain of the gods

ETH Zurich chemist Michailidou could see herself founding her own start-​up: “That would be a dream come true”

15-Nov-2022 - ETH Zurich chemist Freideriki Michailidou is developing novel processes for the sustainable production of fragrance ingredients. As a first step, she studied the scents of rare aromatic plants that grow only on Mount Olympus in Greece. How a product smells affects how we respond to it. So it ...

Mirror image molecules reveal drought stress in forests

Ecosystem changes can be more accurately predicted by emissions of chiral compounds

09-Sep-2022 - Worldwide, plants emit about 100 million tonnes of monoterpenes into the atmosphere each year. These volatile organic molecules include many fragrances such as the molecule pinene – known for its pine fresh scent. Since these molecules are highly reactive and can form tiny aerosol particles that ...

Rethinking indoor air chemistry

People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them

06-Sep-2022 - People typically spend 90 percent of their lives inside, at home, at work or in transport. Within these enclosed spaces, occupants are exposed to a multitude of chemicals from various sources, including outdoor pollutants penetrating indoors, gaseous emissions from building materials and ...

Researchers reveal oxygenate-based routes in syngas conversion over oxide-zeolite bifunctional catalysts

27-Jun-2022 - Aresearch team led by Prof. HOU Guangjin and Prof. BAO Xinhe from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) hasrevealed the oxygenate-based routes in syngas conversion overoxide–zeolite (OXZEO)bifunctional catalysts by solid-state Nuclear ...

Catching microplastics with spider webs

The results provide first insights into the varying levels of microplastic contamination of urban air

08-Jun-2022 - Flies, mosquitoes, dust and even microplastics – spider webs catch things flying through the air. Researchers at the University of Oldenburg have now for the first time examined the webs for the smallest plastic particles – on inner-city streets with varying levels of traffic. They found mainly ...

Researchers Decode Reaction Mechanisms During Interphase Formation in Lithium Batteries

Origin of the Decomposition Product Methane More Complex Than Previously Assumed

20-Sep-2021 - Understanding all processes and reactions inside the lithium-ion battery in detail is essential for its further development. Especially interphases, which strongly influence the performance, safety and service life of energy storage systems, are still insufficiently investigated. They are ...

The 'flying' gas chromatograph

20-Jun-2018 - The basis of the airborne laboratory complex is the gas microchromatograph, developed by the scientists of Samara University. The portable device weighs a little more than a kilogram and it completely replaces bulky laboratory devices. It can provide accurate data on the composition of the ...

What the Smell Can Tell

The degradation status of modern polymeric museum artifacts can be classified by their smell

08-Mar-2018 - Breath analysis in disease diagnostics is a promising research field, and the advances in instrumentation allows the accurate detection of metabolites. But not only the health status of patients, but also the preservation status of museum artifacts could be monitored. Heritage science researchers ...